15 November 2018 Hadestown The National Theatre reviewed by Adam McCormack Star rating: ***** On any given evening there are some 200 different theatrical productions in London, many of which are worth seeing. Getting round all is impossible, so why then, having seen Hadestown, have I immediately booked more tickets? The reason is quite simple… Continue reading Issue 178: 2018 11 15: Hadestown
Article Category: Review
Issue 177: 2018 11 08: Edward Burne-Jones
08 November 2018 Edward Burne-Jones Tate Britain (24 October 2018 – 24 February 2019). Reviewed by William Morton Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898) was one of the leading Pre-Raphaelite artists. He abandoned a theology degree and took up art with encouragement from Rossetti. He was a close collaborator of William Morris and a friend of Swinburne. He… Continue reading Issue 177: 2018 11 08: Edward Burne-Jones
Issue 176: 2018 11 01: Spandau Ballet
1 November 2018 Spandau Ballet The Eventim Apollo reviewed by Adam McCormack The boys from Islington are back – sort of. What constitutes a tribute band? If you take away a distinctive element of one of the iconic pop groups of the 1980’s is it really the same? These are the dilemma’s faced by fans… Continue reading Issue 176: 2018 11 01: Spandau Ballet
Issue 175: 2018 10 25: Modern Couples
25 October 2018 Modern Couples Art, Intimacy and the Avant-Garde The Barbican (until 27 January 2019) Reviewed by William Morton The concept of this exhibition – to examine the effect upon artists’ work of their relationships (usually, of course sexual) with other artists is intriguing. The artists selected cover a wide range and include sculptors,… Continue reading Issue 175: 2018 10 25: Modern Couples
Issue 174: 2018 10 18: Chef Yotam Ottolenghi
18 October 2018 Chef Yotam Ottolenghi At the Wimbledon Bookfest. By Lynda Goetz Sadly the Wimbledon Bookfest is now over for another year so it is too late to tell you to go along and listen to any of this year’s speakers and interviewees. However, my experience of attending Rachel Cooke’s interview with Yotam Ottolenghi… Continue reading Issue 174: 2018 10 18: Chef Yotam Ottolenghi
Issue 173: 2018 10 11: Magic Realism
11 October 2018 Magic Realism Art in Weimar Germany 1919-1933 Tate Modern, until 14 July 2019 (Free) Reviewed by William Morton The term ‘Magic Realism’ was coined in 1925 by a German artist and critic, Frank Roh, to describe a shift towards bleak realism combined with disturbing images in art produced in Germany after the… Continue reading Issue 173: 2018 10 11: Magic Realism
Issue 173: 2018 10 11: I’m Not Running
11 October 2018 I’m not running (a play by David Hare) The National Theatre reviewed by Adam McCormack Star rating: *** Pauline Gibson (Sian Brooke) is that rarest of breeds – the single issue politician. When her cause is as popular as saving a local hospital, the issue is sufficient to get her elected as… Continue reading Issue 173: 2018 10 11: I’m Not Running
Issue 172: 2018 10 04: Dance Nation
4 October 2018 Dance Nation (a play by Clare Barron) The Almeida reviewed by Dell Watson Star rating ** Having read Dance Nation describe itself as “a ferocious exploration of youth, ambition and self-discovery”, I was rather looking forward to watching something truly awful and so far up itself that you would only be able… Continue reading Issue 172: 2018 10 04: Dance Nation
Issue 171: 2018 09 27: Anthony and Cleopatra
27 September 2018 Antony and Cleopatra The National Theatre reviewed by Adam McCormack Star Rating **** Why should theatre be forced into pigeonholes? Antony and Cleopatra is not one of Shakespeare’s most easily categorised plays, sitting somewhere between history and tragedy, but with elements of high comedy. Simon Godwin’s new production at the National Theatre… Continue reading Issue 171: 2018 09 27: Anthony and Cleopatra
Issue 168: 2018 09 06: Guarding the Gardiennes
06 September 2018 Guarding the Gardiennes A film by Xavier Beauvois. Reviewed by J R Thomas Sometimes it seems a pity that English does not follow Latin derived languages in having gender sensitive nouns. Of course in an age when we have all genders and none, we are never going to get our words defined… Continue reading Issue 168: 2018 09 06: Guarding the Gardiennes
Issue 165: 2018 08 02: Home, I’m Darling
2 August 2018 Home, I’m Darling ( a play by Laura Wade) The National Theatre reviewed by Adam McCormack Star rating: **** 04Nostalgia is not what it used to be. Johnny and Judy seem the ideal of domestic bliss and can’t stop telling each other how perfect their lives are. Judy is a model housewife,… Continue reading Issue 165: 2018 08 02: Home, I’m Darling
Issue 160: 2018 06 28: The Happy Prince
28 June 2018 The Happy Prince A film by Rupert Everett Reviewed by William Morton Stars: **** This film is very much the pet project of Rupert Everett who wrote the script as well as directing it. It is about the final three years of Oscar Wilde’s life, after he had served his sentence for… Continue reading Issue 160: 2018 06 28: The Happy Prince
Issue 159: 2018 06 21: An Octoroon
21 June 2018 An Octoroon (a play by Branden Jacob-Jenkins) The National Theatre reviewed by Adam McCormack Star rating: **** Clothed in nothing but socks and underpants a black playwright gives a monologue describing how, through visits to his therapist, he decided to put on a version of a play that makes him happy. The… Continue reading Issue 159: 2018 06 21: An Octoroon